Erbil- The Kurdistan Region of Iraq has always been a local tourist area, limited to tourists from within the region, but recently it has begun to become a destination for tourists from Iraqi cities in the center and south, as well as Arabs from outside Iraq, and even foreigners from neighboring countries.
This was facilitated by the geographical nature of the region, including mountains, terrain, valleys, rivers and lakes, not to mention the archaeological sites, and a climate suitable for attracting tourists, especially in the summer, when many Iraqis escape the summer heat in the center and south towards the tourist areas in Iraqi Kurdistan, which are distinguished by a moderate climate in the summer.
As a result of the increasing number of tourists and the emergence of the importance of this sector in the region, the region has also been prepared for winter tourism, as demand for it has increased from lovers of snowfall areas in the mountains, as some areas are characterised by the fact that snow remains in them throughout the year.
What helps the development of the tourism sector in the Kurdistan Region is the desire of the people of these areas for Arab and foreign tourists to come, and their distinguished hospitality and warm welcome, in addition to the region’s need to open new markets that would be a gateway to employing their children.
Lake Pequodian
Lake Beykodian remains one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Iraqi Kurdistan, and is among the highest areas in Iraq, located at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters above sea level.
The lake extends between mountains whose peaks are covered with melting snow, feeding the lake, creating a beautiful view that combines the lake and the surrounding mountain peaks, which have retained their snow since winter.
For a tourist to reach the lake from the center and south, or an Arab or foreign tourist, your first stop must be Erbil, which you can reach from Baghdad by air via daily flights from Baghdad Airport that take 45 minutes. Flights also arrive at Erbil International Airport from all the countries surrounding Iraq, including the Gulf countries, as well as some European countries. As for the land from Baghdad, the trip to Erbil takes 4 hours.
From Erbil you must take the road, and you will only travel a short distance (only 30 kilometers) to enter the mountainous area of Salah al-Din Resort, which is the first thing you will encounter, the city nestled on a mountain.
Shaqlawa area
If your destination is not Salah El Din Resort, you can take the quickest and easiest route, which is the tunnel that penetrates the mountain from under the resort, for a distance of two and a half kilometers, so that the tunnel will take you directly to the Shaqlawa area, which is located in the bosom of Mount Safin, between forests and orchards, which gives it a captivating beauty that attracts tourists to the point that sometimes prompts the authorities to cut off the mountain roads leading to the area from all directions due to congestion.
A tourist’s tour of the region cannot be complete without taking an evening walk through the streets of Shaqlawa and its forests. The eagerness to reach the mountain peaks and the deep valleys, rivers and waterfalls spread throughout the region makes you extend your stay in Shaqlawa.
Rwands Resorts
60 kilometers north of Shaqlawa, after crossing plains, mountains and rough roads, you reach the Rawanduz region, a distinctive tourist area with resorts. The Rawanduz resort chain begins with the “Kali Ali Bek” waterfall, whose image is depicted on the Iraqi paper currency (5,000 dinars).
At the bottom of the waterfall is a lake surrounded by umbrellas where families and various visitors can take a break to eat, amidst the gurgling of the waterfall waters that flow from the side of the mountain to fall into the lake. Due to the intensity of the gurgling sound, one can hardly hear others talking.
A few kilometers away from the Kalli Ali Bek waterfall, and while you are still deep in the valley, where the sky and the two mountains fill the place, you will find the most beautiful waterfall and the one that attracts the most tourists, which is the Bekhal waterfall, from which the waters of the Zalal spring flow from the top of the mountain. On the edges of the mountain, the locals have erected umbrellas on the rocks around which the waterfall waters flow, so that tourists can rest in their shade.
To reach the top of Mount Korek, which is 2100 meters above sea level, you need to take the cable car. When you reach the top, you can spend a pleasant time as there are restaurants, cafes and villas for those who want to stay overnight.
The further north you go, the higher the mountains you find than what you left behind, and also deeper valleys and rivers with a stronger flow of water to the point that they almost tear the rocks from their place. There are also more rugged roads to the point that some tourists get dizzy from turning right and left, up and down.
And so you have to keep going if you want to reach Lake Pecodian, which has recently become a destination especially for mountaineering enthusiasts.
mountaineering
At the bottom of the mountain, the car stops where the distances it can travel end and the climbing path begins, which lasts for long hours to reach the lake. Therefore, it is necessary to reach there by special teams and guides who prepare themselves to spend the night and spend time on the edges of the lake amidst the remaining winter snow.
Sarhank Saeed, a member of the mountaineering teams, told Al Jazeera Net that reaching these places requires preparing early in the morning to board a private bus in the middle of Erbil with the help of a tour guide.
Saeed adds that Lake Pikodian and Lake Filau are among the most important tourist destinations in the Zagros Mountains region, which are 3,150 meters above sea level.
Due to the mountainous nature of the area, there is no way to reach these springs and lakes by means of transportation, so you must hire a tour guide to reach your destination on foot, and the journey takes about 8 hours to reach Lake Picodian.
According to Saeed, each tourist needs about 70,000 dinars ($50) to cover the costs of transportation and a tour guide.
The lake is not far from Lake Picodian, and an increasing number of young people are coming to spend mountain nights in tents set up around the lake, and many tourists are also coming to the place in groups.
In general, spending a tourist day in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq requires about 150 thousand dinars ($100) per person, which covers accommodation and food expenses.
